Bob Carver 180 Mono-blocks perform superbly

Vmhf, I understand your warranty concern. As far as your CDP volume issue is concerned, it depends on the quality of the the volume control circuit of the CDP. If it is high quality, I would set Bobs vol control to max which will almost effectively bypass the amp's stock pot. If you decide to install the Gold Point attenuator in the future, I would set the CDP vol to max and use the GP to control the volume. Nothing I've tried so far beats the GP installed in the amp.

VmhF, great news! Bob Carver has informed me replacing the stock volume pot with the Gold Point stepped attenuator by a qualified professional will not void the warranty on the amp.

Thanks for the update mate. I'll certainly think about the upgrade in the near future. I ended up getting my pairs of matched sextant Sovtek kt88 tubes and the improvements in sound are vast to say the least! The music is more refined but most noticeably is a tighter, more detailed bass response. My input tubes being Telefunken 12AX7 with ribbed plates and Siemens 12AX7 with ribbed plates. Also have on hand some Trigon 12AT7 and Phillips 12AX7 to play around with!

Sovtek KT88s? I think those are even cheaper than the stock tubes, and they sound better than the stock? That's great. I have the Telefunken smooth plate 12AX7s.

I was a bit hesitant on spending $450 on a single EAT KT88 so went the other way around on a $30 Sovtek! Haha!

Gamble paid off as these slaughter the stock tubes in my system!